Package construction and parts therefor or the like



Sept. 15, 1964 E. T. BRYANT 3,143,769

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l I J 46 INVENTOR 9/ EDWARD 1'. BRYANT HIS ATTORNEYS E. T. BRYANT 3,148,769

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Sept. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-sheaf; 2

Filed Oct. 11, 1961 INVENTOR EDWARD T: BRYANT HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,148,769 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR 0R TEE LIKE Edward T. Bryant, Bon Air, Va, assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 144,326 14 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to an improved package construction for napkins and the like, as well as to an improved napkin dispensing receptacle and blank for making such a receptacle or the like.

Heretofore, disposable napkins, made of paper or the like, have been merchandised in cardboard boxes and the like which are adequate to hold the napkins until needed but are not sufiiciently attractive to be set on the eating :table to provide a source of additional napkins when required.

According to the teachings of this invention an improved package construction for napkins or the like is provided whereby a plurality of napkins are arranged into a substantially rectangular bundle and packaged together with a collapsed receptacle to form a merchantable and compact package construction.

The ultimate consumer opens the package construction and moves the attractive receptacle of this invention to its article-carrying position whereby the bundle of napkins can be placed in the opened receptacle, the receptacle not only providing means for storing and protecting the napkins, but also providing an attractive means for dispensing the napkins when desired, whereby such receptacle is readily adaptable to be displayed at the eating table or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved package construction for napkins or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved napkin dispensing receptacle for such a package construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved blank for forming such a receptacle or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the receptacle of this invention in its article-carrying position and holding a bundle of napkins or the like.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the improved package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the manner of opening the package construction of this invention and expanding the receptacle thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the manner of locking the receptacle of this invention in its article-carrying position.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the improved blank of this invention for forming the receptacle of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates the step of forming the receptacle of this invention from the blank of FIGURE 5.

While the receptacle of this invention and the blank for making the same are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adapted to form the napkin package of this invention, it is to be understood that these features of this invention can be utilized for other purposes as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings merely illustrate one of .the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, an improved package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1i) and comprises a substantially rectangular bundle 11 of folded paper napkins 11' or the like and a collapsed receptacle 12 of this invention held against one side of the bundle 11 by a suitable cellophane or otherwise transparent overwrap 13 whereby the ultimate consumer cannot only inspect the napkins 11 but also the attractive receptacle 12.

While the napkins 11' are illustrated as being folded and held together in a substantially rectangular bundle 11 by a suitable band 14 passing around the same, it is to be understood that the napkins 11' can be unfolded and need not be banded together, as desired.

When the ultimate consumer removes the overwrap 13 from the package construction 10, the ultimate consumer moves the receptacle 12 to its article-carrying position as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 1 and, thereafter, inserts the unbanded bundle 11 of napkins 11' into the opened receptacle 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 1 whereby not only are the napkins 11' suitably protected for storage and the like, by the receptacle 12, but also the napkins 11' can be readily set on the eating table or the like because the opened receptacle 12 is attractive and pleasing in design.

The receptacle 12 of this invention is formed from a receptacle blank 15 illustrated in FIGURE 5, the blank 15 being formed of any suitable material, such as cardboard or the like having decorative material, such as aluminum foil or the like, laminated on the exterior surface thereof.

However, it is to be understood that the side of the blank 15 that forms the exterior surface of the receptacle 12 can be formed with any other desired decorative means or medium or remain plain, as desired.

The flat, substantially rectangular receptacle blank 15 is suitably cut and scored by conventional apparatus or the like to define a pair of opposed side walls 16 and 17, a bottom wall 18 foldably connected to the bottom edges of the side walls 16 and 17 at respective score or fold lines 19 and 20, four end wall panels 21, 22, 23 and 24 respectively foldably connected to the end edges of the side walls 16 and 17 at respective score or fold lines 25, 26, 27 and 28, and four end tabs 29, 30, 31 and 32 respectively foldably connected to the outer free edges of the end wall panels 21-24 at respective score or fold lines 33, 34, 35 and 36.

The bottom wall 18 is foldable into two like sections 37 and 38 along a longitudinally disposed score of fold line 39.

Each end tab 29-32 has a pair of projections 40 and 41 extending therefrom below the respective tapering bottom edge 42 of the end wall panels 21-24, the projections 40 and 41 being separated from each other by a die cut notch 43 to provide means for locking the bottom wall 18 in its article carrying position in a manner hereinafter described.

After the receptacle blank 15 has been suitably cut and scored in the above manner, it is a relatively simple process to form the receptacle blank 15 into the receptacle 12 of this invention.

In particular, adhesive is placed on the inside surface of the end tabs 29 and 30 or on the inside surfaces of the end tabs 31 and 32 or on all of the inside surfaces of end tabs 29-32, as desired.

In any event, the blank 15 is folded on the longitudinally disposed score line 39 to bring the inside surfaces of the pairs of end tabs 29, 31 and 30, 32 together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the pairs of end tabs 29,

31 and 30, 32 are secured together to form the receptacle 12.

Thereafter, the receptacle 12 can be disposed in its compact, flat, collapsed position by moving the pairs of interconnected end wall panels 21, 23 and 22, 24 between the side walls 16 and 17 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 3 whereby the side walls 16 and 17 can be pushed toward each other while the interconnected pairs of end tabs 29, 31 and 30, 32 are respectively disposed between the folded pairs of end wall panels 21, 23 and 22, 24 with the bottom wall 18 folded at the score or fold line 39 to superimpose the sections 37 and 38 together into the flat, collapsed, compact position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The size of the receptacle 12 can be so designed that when the receptacle 12 is disposed in its compact, flat, collapsed position as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the collapsed receptacle 12 has substantially the same outside dimensions as the bundle 11 of folded napkins 11 so that the collapsed receptacle 12 provides a rigidifying means for holding the package construction in its substantially rectangular configuration.

Therefore, it can be seen that it is relatively simple to form the receptacles 12 from the blanks and dispose the receptacles 12 in their collapsed positions to form the package constructions 10.

When it is desired to erect a collapsed receptacle 12 to its article-carrying position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the interconnected pair of end tabs 29, 31 and 30, 32 are grasped and pulled outwardly as illustrated in FIG- URE 3 to bring the pairs of interconnected end walls 21, 23 and 22, 24 into the same plane while causing the sections 37 and 38 of the bottom wall 18 to be brought into the same plane whereby-an open ended, substantially rectangular compartment is defined by the opened receptacle 12 between the side walls 16 and 17 thereof.

To hold the receptacle 12 in its article-carrying position, the opposed outer free end edges 44 of the bottom wall 18 are forced into the die cut notches 43 of the interconnected pairs of end tabs 29, 31 and 30, 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, whereby the end tabs 29, 32 lock the receptacle 12 in its article-carrying position until the bottom wall 18 is selectively moved from the notches 43.

When the receptacle 12 is disposed in its article-carrying position, the band 14 can be removed from the bundle 11 of napkins 11 whereby the napkins 11' can be disposed in the open ended compartment of the erected receptacle 12 as illustrated in FIGURE 1 so that the napkins 11 can be readily dispensed therefrom, as needed.

After the napkins 11' have been completely dispensed from the receptacle 12, it can be seen that the receptacle 12 can be used over and over again because the same can be collapsed in the above manner and stored away in its flat, compact condition until it is desired to utilize the same to carry other napkins or other articles, as desired.

Accordingly, it can be seen that an improved package construction for napkins or the like has been provided by this invention.

Also, an improved collapsible receptacle and blank for making the same have been provided by this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, a pair of end walls each having a pair of opposed side edges, each end wall being foldably connected at the side edges thereof to adjacent end edges of said side walls, each end wall being foldable into two sections, each end wall having an outwardly projecting end tab provided with locking means, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively foldably connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said bottom Wall being foldable into two sections, said receptacle when moved to its article-carrying position defining an open ended substantially rectangular compartment with said bottom wall locked in its article-carrying position by said locking means, said receptacle when moved to its collapsed position having said end walls folded into said sections between said side walls with said bottom wall folded into said sections outside of said side walls.

2. A collapsible receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, four end wall panels respectively foldably connected to said end edges of said side walls, each pair of adjacent end wall panels being foldably connected together to define an end wall of said receptacles, each end wall having an outwardly projecting end tab provided with locking means, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively foldably connected to said bottom edges ofsaid side walls, said bottom wall being foldable into two sections, said receptacle when moved to its article-carrying position defining an open ended substantially rectangular compartment with said bottom wall locked in its article-carrying position by said locking means, said receptacle when moved to its collapsed position having said pairs of interconnected end wall panels disposed between said side walls with said bottom wall folded into said sections outside of said side walls.

3. A collapsible receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, four end wall panels respectively foldably connected to said end edges of said side walls and respectively having end tabs foldably con nected at the inner edges thereof, each adjacent pair of end wall panels having the end tabs thereof secured together to define an end wall of said receptacle, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively foldably connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said bottom wall being foldable into two sections, said receptacle when moved to its article-carrying position defining an open ended substantially rectangular compartment with said end tabs projecting outwardly from said end walls thereof, said receptacle when moved to its collapsed position having said end tabs disposed between said end wall panels with said end wall panels disposed between said side walls while said bottom wall is folded into said sections outside of said side walls.

4. A collapsible receptacle as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said end tabs has means to selectively lock said bottom wall in its article-carrying position.

5. A receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, a pair of opposed end walls respectively connected to adjacent end edges of said side walls, each end wall having an outwardly directed end tab, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said end tabs having means to selectively lock said bottom wall to said end walls.

6. A receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, four end wall panels respectively connected to said end edges of said side walls, each pair of adjacent end wall panels being connected together to form an end wall of said receptacle, each end wall having an outwardly directed end tab, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said end tabs each having means to selectively lock said bottom Wall to the respective end wall.

7. A receptacle comprising a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, four end wall panels respectively connected to said end edges of said side walls and respectively having end tabs projecting outwardly from the inner edge thereof, each adjacent pair of end Wall panels having the end tabs thereof secured together to form an end wall of said receptacle with said end tabs projecting outwardly from the respective end wall, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, said end tabs each having means to selectively lock said bottom wall to the respective end wall.

8. In combination, a plurality of napkins arranged into a substantially rectangular bundle, a collapsible receptacle disposed in a flat compact condition thereof against one side of said rectangular bundle of napkins to provide rigidity to said bundle of napkins, said receptacle being movable to an article-carrying position whereby said bundle of napkins can be disposed in said opened receptacle to be carried thereby, and flexible means temporarily holding said bundle of napkins and said collapsed receptacle together whereby said collapsed receptacle forms the sole rigidifying means for said bundle of napkins.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein a band surrounds said bundle of napkins to temporarily hold said napkins in said rectangular arrangement.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means temporarily holding said bundle of napkins and said collapsed receptacle together comprises an overwrap completely surrounding said bundle of napkins and said collapsed receptacle.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said receptacle comprises a pair of opposed side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, a pair of opposed end walls respectively foldably connected to adjacent pairs of end edges of said side Walls, and a bottom wall having opposed side edges respectively foldably connected to said bottom edges of said side Walls, said end walls having outwardly directed end tab means to selectively lock said bottom Wall in its article-carrying position.

12. A receptacle blank being suitably cut and scored to define a pair of side walls respectively having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed end edges, a bottom wall foldably connected to said bottom edges of said side walls, four end wall panels respectively foldably connected to said end edges of said side walls, and four end tabs respectively foldably connected to the outer free ends of said end wall panels, each end tab having a pair of inwardly directed and aligned fingers.

13. A receptacle blank as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of said end tabs has a notch defined between the fingers thereof to receive said bottom Wall when said blank is formed into said receptacle.

14. A receptacle blank as set forth in claim 12 wherein said top edges of said side walls project beyond said end wall panels.

References Cited in the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,955 Brown Sept. 14, 1909 1,158,353 Willis Oct. 26, 1915 1,174,364 Stempel Mar. 7, 1916 1,507,106 Cohn Sept. 2, 1924 1,717,900 Swim June 18, 1929 1,817,135 Goodyear Aug. 4, 1931 1,846,748 Palmer Feb. 23, 1932 1,883,852 Medotf Oct. 18, 1932 1,889,012 Berger Nov. 29, 1932 2,478,412 McMahan Aug. 9, 1949 2,673,023 Vander Lugt Mar. 23, 1954 2,676,748 Sprenger et al Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 718,448 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1954 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS RESPECTIVELY HAVING OPPOSED TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND OPPOSED END EDGES, A PAIR OF END WALLS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE EDGES, EACH END WALL BEING FOLDABLY CONNECTED AT THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF TO ADJACENT END EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH END WALL BEING FOLDABLE INTO TWO SECTIONS, EACH END WALL HAVING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING END TAB PROVIDED WITH LOCKING MEANS, AND A BOTTOM WALL HAVING OPPOSED SIDE EDGES RESPECTIVELY FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING FOLDABLE INTO TWO SECTIONS, SAID RECEPTACLE WHEN MOVED TO ITS ARTICLE-CARRYING POSITION DEFINING AN OPEN ENDED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR COMPARTMENT WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL LOCKED IN ITS ARTICLE-CARRYING POSITION BY SAID LOCKING MEANS, SAID RECEPTACLE WHEN MOVED TO ITS COLLAPSED POSITION HAVING SAID END WALLS FOLDED INTO SAID SECTIONS BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL FOLDED INTO SAID SECTIONS OUTSIDE OF SAID SIDE WALLS. 